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Brother MFC-J4540DW — Inkjet AIO · 2023
Brother

Brother MFC-J4540DW

Inkjet AIO · 2023

82
/ 100
From $229
VS
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 wins by 8
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 — Photo EcoTank inkjet
Epson

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550

Photo EcoTank inkjet

90
/ 100
From $699
Specdex verdict

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Brother MFC-J4540DW lands at 82 and Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 at 90. That puts Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 ahead by 8 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Brother MFC-J4540DW if…

  • ✓Wireless printing (most)
  • ✓Current-gen firmware
  • ✓Mature driver support

Pick Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 if…

  • ✓Wireless printing
  • ✓AirPrint/Mopria compatible
  • ✓Good first-page-out time (laser models)
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Quality

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550

Compared on the quality sub-score

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 leads on quality (90 vs 82).

Reliability

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550

Compared on the reliability sub-score

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 leads on reliability (88 vs 80).

Speed

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550

Compared on the speed sub-score

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 leads on speed (86 vs 78).

Value for money

Brother MFC-J4540DW

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Brother MFC-J4540DW more score per dollar ($229 vs $699).

Brother MFC-J4540DW 82
vs
90 Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550

Score breakdown

Brother MFC-J4540DW
82
speed 78
quality 82
cost 80
reliability 80
Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
90
speed 86
quality 90
cost 82
reliability 88

Specs side-by-side

Brother MFC-J4540DW versus Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 — full spec comparison
Spec Brother MFC-J4540DW Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550
Type
Inkjet AIO
Photo EcoTank inkjet
Release year
2023
—

Brother MFC-J4540DW

Pros
  • +Wireless printing (most)
  • +Current-gen firmware
  • +Mature driver support
Cons
  • −Ink/toner subscriptions (HP)
  • −Noisy under heavy loads
  • −Paper path varies

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550

Pros
  • +Wireless printing
  • +AirPrint/Mopria compatible
  • +Good first-page-out time (laser models)
Cons
  • −Ink subscription lock-in (HP)
  • −Drum/toner replacement cost
  • −Slow photo print on some inkjets

FAQ: Brother MFC-J4540DW vs Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550

Which is better, Brother MFC-J4540DW or Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550? +

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 scores 90 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 8. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Brother MFC-J4540DW worth the price? +

At $229, Brother MFC-J4540DW delivers a Specdex score of 82 — strongest in quality.

Is Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 worth the price? +

At $699, Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 delivers a Specdex score of 90 — strongest in quality.

Does Brother MFC-J4540DW or Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for quality, Brother MFC-J4540DW or Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550? +

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 — leads on quality (90 vs 82). Compared on the quality sub-score.

Which is better for reliability, Brother MFC-J4540DW or Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550? +

Epson EcoTank Photo ET-8550 — leads on reliability (88 vs 80). Compared on the reliability sub-score.